Borer announces new blight enforcement effort

WEST HAVEN, March 27, 2024 — (Pictured): Mayor Dorinda Borer and members of the city’s Blight Enforcement Task Force hold a news conference in the Harriet C. North Community Room of City Hall on Wednesday to herald a new campaign to fight blight in West Haven.

The announcement featured remarks by Borer, who was flanked by more than a dozen task force members, including city, police and fire officials.

The newly created task force is composed of the mayor’s, blight and corporation counsel’s offices and the Police, Fire, Public Works, Building, Zoning Enforcement and Health departments.

West Haven’s blight enforcement effort aims to provide for a cleaner city for an improved quality of life.

To report a blight complaint, call the new blight hotline at 203-937-3750.

Watch the video.

(City Photo/Andrew Kosarko)

West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer, right, claps as Papa Dough’s co-owner Pasquale Villano, center, cuts the ribbon to mark the West Haven pizzeria’s grand opening in West Shore’s Woodlawn Shopping Center at 845 Jones Hill Road on Wednesday. With them are, from left, Director of Membership and Marketing Simon McDonald of the Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce, Papa Dough’s manager Andrew Tudino, co-owners Mike DelVecchio and Josh Wechsler, West Haven City Council Chairman Nicholas A. Pascale, council members Christopher E. Vargo Jr., D-8, and Gary Donovan, D-4, and state Rep. Bill Heffernan, D-West Haven. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

New pizzeria, Papa Dough’s, celebrates grand opening

WEST HAVEN, March 27, 2024 — Papa Dough’s, the city’s newest pizzeria, celebrated its opening in grand style Wednesday.

Mayor Dorinda Borer cheered as Papa Dough’s co-owner Pasquale Villano, sporting a pair of oversize scissors, snipped a “West Haven blue” ribbon to officially open the restaurant’s doors in West Shore’s Woodlawn Shopping Center at 845 Jones Hill Road.

Villano was accompanied by co-owners Mike DelVecchio and Josh Wechsler and family and friends.

Borer delivered remarks welcoming the owners to the city’s business community and the “beautiful” location on Route 162.

The location is familiar to local pizza aficionados as the former longtime home of Full Circle Pizza. The site has been extensively remodeled and is situated across from a stand-alone CVS Pharmacy.

At Papa Dough’s, pizza connoisseurs can sink their teeth into The Godfather, a thin-crust red pie topped with meatball, mozzarella cheese and vodka sauce, and The CPR, a thin-crust white pie topped with mozzarella, chicken cutlet, pepperoni and ranch dressing.

“Papa Dough’s mission is to redefine the quick service pizza experience by crafting exceptional pizzas with the highest-quality ingredients,” said Villano, of Orange. “With a commitment to excellence, we aim to delight our customers with every bite, creating a memorable eating experience that reflects our passion for quality, speed and unparalleled customer satisfaction.”

Also marking the afternoon ribbon-cutting were West Haven Democratic state Rep. Bill Heffernan, Borer chief of staff Rick Spreyer, city Fair Rent Commissioner Steven R. Mullins, City Council Chairman Nicholas A. Pascale, D-at large, and council members Gary Donovan, D-4, and Christopher E. Vargo Jr., D-8.

They were joined by Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce President Michael Moses and Simon McDonald, the chamber’s director of membership and marketing, along with chamber members West Shore Associates of West Haven owner Erin Eberhardt, New Haven Bank of West Haven branch manager Hala Urban and Edward Jones of Milford financial adviser Jay Borelli.

The dine-in pizzeria, which offers delivery and takeout services, also serves a variety of tasty calzones, such as The Wise Guy, filled with meatball, sausage, and mozzarella and ricotta cheeses, and The Angry Bird, filled with chicken cutlet, mozzarella and buffalo sauce.

Other menu favorites include bone-in and boneless chicken wings and Papa’s “shareables,” such as seasoned waffle fries and Philly cheesesteak egg rolls, as well as flavorful desserts, including deep-fried Oreos and churro fried dough sticks.

Papa Dough’s is open from 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from noon-8 p.m. Sunday. It is closed on Monday.

Borer sets first town hall meeting as city’s mayor at 6 p.m. today

WEST HAVEN, March 27, 2024 — Mayor Dorinda Borer is inviting residents to participate in her first town hall meeting as the city’s chief elected official.

The community event is slated for 6 p.m. today and is aimed at fostering communication and transparency between City Hall and West Haven residents.

Residents can attend the town hall in person in the Harriet C. North Community Room of City Hall, 355 Main St., or they can participate in the meeting virtually on the Facebook page UNH Mayor’s Advisory Commission.

The town hall is sponsored by the mayor’s office and the University of New Haven Mayor’s Advisory Commission, a collaborative, student-driven task force founded in 2015 to strengthen town-gown relations.

The UNH commission is led by Brian Cao, a sophomore studying national security, and adviser Chris Haynes, an associate professor of international affairs, national security and political science.

All members of the community are encouraged to participate in the town hall and ask questions. The moderators are Haynes and commission member Abigail Fruhling.

Participants can send questions before the meeting by email to afruh1@unh.newhaven.edu or chaynes@newhaven.edu. They can also submit questions during the meeting in the “Comment” section on Facebook Live.

For more information, call the mayor’s office at 203-937-3510, or email afruh1@unh.newhaven.edu or chaynes@newhaven.edu.

Marchers sought for West Haven Memorial Day parade

Marchers sought for Memorial Day parade

WEST HAVEN, March 21, 2024 — The city and the West Haven Veterans Council are seeking veterans, civic groups, fraternal organizations, service clubs and marching bands to participate in the annual Memorial Day parade, which steps off at 10:30 a.m. May 27.

Participants must register and list required special accommodations for the procession, which has no rain date.

The city will provide transportation for veterans who are unable to walk the 1 ½-mile parade route, which follows Campbell Avenue from Captain Thomas Boulevard to Center Street. To make arrangements, call the mayor’s office at 203-937-3510.

The parade grand marshal is Gerald Cafferty, an Army veteran of the Vietnam War.

Download a Participation Form.

Forms are also available for pickup in the mayor’s office at City Hall, 355 Main St., where they are due May 2.

Completed forms must be faxed to 203-937-3705 or mailed to the West Haven Memorial Day Parade, Office of the Mayor, 355 Main St., West Haven, CT 06516.

DEEP presentation set for April 4

WEST HAVEN, March 21, 2024 — In conjunction with the release of the latest edition of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s “Connecticut Beach Association’s Guide to Coastal Activities and Permitting,” DEEP’s Land and Water Resources Division will host a presentation followed by a question-and-answer session on the guide.

The presentation is set for 6 p.m. April 4 in Room 102 of the Fairfield Regional Fire School at 205 Richard White Way.

The presentation will feature the new, updated version of the guide that covers more material, such as beach erosion, animal strandings and enforcement. DEEP staff will discuss the various topics in the guide, including beach raking, coastal structures and swim areas.

This presentation is open to any beach associations, municipalities, owners of shorefront property, recreational clubs or anyone interested in learning more about DEEP’s regulation of beaches and associated recreational activities.

For details and to RSVP, read the full DEEP news release.

Applications available April 1-26 for SYEP

Applications available from April 1-26 for Summer Youth Employment Program in West Haven

WEST HAVEN, March 14, 2024 — Applications for the Summer Youth Employment Program will be available from April 1-26 in the main entrance at West Haven High School and the main office at Bailey Middle School.

Applications are available on the city website for students who do not attend West Haven High or Bailey. Download an Application.

The summer program, which begins July 8 and runs at least four weeks, is aimed at funding positions for low-income city residents ages 14-21.

Students must return applications, including students who downloaded them, with all required documents to West Haven High from 7-8:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and to Bailey from 8-9:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

No applications will be accepted after April 26.

Students must also include copies of information, such as a birth certificate and a Social Security card, as well as documentation of household income.

Family income is based on the number of people per household and is required to be within 185% of state poverty income levels.

In addition, some work sites will require a COVID-19 vaccination. Students must indicate their vaccination status on the application.

Incomplete applications will not be processed. Applicants will be notified by mail or phone if more information is needed.

Johnstone temporarily suspends City Council duties due to ‘medical issue’

Johnstone temporarily suspends council duties over ‘medical issue’

WEST HAVEN, Feb. 28, 2024 — Republican Councilman Steven J. Johnstone, who represents West Shore’s 10th District, is coping with a medical issue and has temporarily suspended his City Council duties.

Johnstone, the council’s minority leader, has requested until further notice that constituents direct all 10th District matters to council members Meli Garthwait, R-at large, and Brian Laucks, D-at large.

Garthwait can be contacted at mgarthwait@westhaven-ct.gov and Laucks at blaucks@westhaven-ct.gov.

“The city of West Haven wishes Councilman Johnstone well in his recovery,” Mayor Dorinda Borer said. “We will all pitch in and cover his responsibilities so that our constituents are served and Councilman Johnstone can take the time to recover.”